Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect Wednesday's political tensions in Zimbabwe.

LOMÉ, Togo — Protesters in this west African capital have been burning tires and barricading roads to force political change in a country ruled by the same family for five decades.

“He must go! We don’t need him anymore,” demonstrator Henri Alifoe, 35, said of President Faure Gnassingbé, who succeeded his father in 2005. "We demand change. He must step down to give others opportunity.”

Such long reigns in Togo reflect a common problem throughout Africa, where ostensibly democratic societies seem stuck with aging leaders or family dynasties who cling to power through fraudulent elections or constitutional changes forced on their people.

That has been the case in Zimbabwe, Uganda, Cameroon, Mozambique, Sudan, Chad and the Democratic Republic of Congo for decades despite laws prohibiting their leaders from holding power for so long.

On Wednesday, Zimbabwe’s military said it detained President Robert Mugabe and his wife, triggering speculation of a coup. The army denied a coup had taken place and said it wanted to root out "criminals" who were targeting the country's longtime leader.

Still, many Africans unhappy with their leaders holding onto power for so long are pushing for term limits and free elections monitored by international observers to force out incumbents. These reformers chalked up a victory in Gambia in January, when Adama Barrow defeated Yahya Jammeh, who had ruled the small country on Africa's western coast for 23 years.

Gambia's political success has given hope to reformers elsewhere:

Democratic Republic of Congo: President Joseph Kabila, 46, who has been in power since 2001, sparked a backlash when he moved elections scheduled for December 2016 to 2019. The opposition has staged mass protests in the capital Kinshasa to push Kabila out of the office. The protest has left more than 100 people dead, according local human right groups.

“We will not accept Kabila clinging onto power. We are going to mobilize people to remove him from the office,” said Felix Tshisekedi, a Congolese opposition leader.

Uganda: President Yoweri Museveni, 73, could become president for life after lawmakers from his party introduced a bill in late September to abolish a constitutional provision that bars anyone 75 or older from running for president. Museveni has been president for 31 years and his current term ends in 2021.

The proposal has triggered civil unrest, including the fatal shooting by police of two protesters in a southwestern town this month.

“We cannot allow Museveni to continue being president. We have to force him out of the office,” said Hillary Bwire, 22, a student at Makerere University in the capital, Kampala. “We need change in our country.”

Liberia: Unlike many colleagues, this country's leader is abiding by constitutional term limits. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, 78, who has been president since 2006 is stepping down following elections this month to replace her in the country's first democratic transition in 70 years. The winner will be announced after a runoff on Nov. 7.

Many other African leaders, such as Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Burundi’s Pierre Nkurunziza and Mugabe of Zimbabwe have successfully changed their constitutions to try to remain in power for life despite broad opposition in their countries.

Kagame, 59, has been in power since 2000 and Nkurunziza, 53, has ruled since 2005.

A Rwandan woman casts her vote at a polling station in Kigali as the polls open for the country's presidential election.
Rwandans began voting on August 4 in a presidential election widely expected to return strongman Paul Kagame to office for a third term at the helm of the small east African nation.(Photo: MARCO LONGARI, AFP/Getty Images)

Mugabe, 93, who has run his country for 37 years as a virtual dictator, was embroiled in a new controversy last month when the World Health Organization named him a "goodwill ambassador" and then rescinded the title after global protests about his poor human rights record and inferior health care in Zimbabwe.

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Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, one of the world's longest serving non-royal leaders, may be experiencing an abrupt end in office. Zimbabwe's military appears to be in control of the country on Nov. 15, 2017. Generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target "criminals" close to President Robert Mugabe. JEKESAI NJIKIZANA, AFP/Getty Images

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe (2L) inspects a guard of honour during official Heroes Day commemorations held at National Heroes Acre in Zimbabwe. Mugabe born Robert Mugabe was born on Feb.21, 1924, in Kutama, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) founded ZANU, a resistance movement against British colonial rule. Mugabe became prime minister of the new Republic of Zimbabwe in April of 1980 when British rule ended. JEKESAI NJIKIZANA, AFP/Getty Images

Soldiers man their position with a military vehicle outside the office of President Robert Mugabe, in Harare, on Wednesday. Zimbabwe's military controls the capital and the state broadcaster, Wednesday, and is understood to be holding 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe and his wife under house arrest. Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi, AP

A handout picture obtained on Wednesday, from the Twitter account of the Fadzayi Mahere, advocate of the High Court and Supreme Court of Zimbabwe, shows what appears to be an image of officers sitting in a line with troops guarding them at an undisclosed location in Harare. AFP/Getty Images

Zimbabwean Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, right, stands with President Robert Mugabe outside State House, in Harare, Zimbabwe, in this December 2014 file photo. The Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) has reportedly taken control over the government of President Robert Mugabe. The army seized the national broadcaster's headquarters (ZBC) on 14 November night, to announce that President Mugabe and his family were safe but without citing their whereabouts. The military denied it staged a coup d'etat. AARON UFUMELI, EPA-EFE

An armed soldier patrols a street in Harare, Zimbabwe, on Wednesday. Zimbabwe's army said Wednesday it has President Robert Mugabe and his wife in custody and is securing government offices and patrolling the capital's streets following a night of unrest that included a military takeover of the state broadcaster. AP

A bodyguard sits in between a portrait and a life-size poster of a youthful Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, during a meeting with the country's war veterans in Harare, on April, 7, 2016. The meeting was held following complaints by the veterans that Mugabe had abandoned them for a younger faction of the party led by his wife Grace. In his speech Mugabe called on unity and discipline among the veterans. Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi, AP

A woman holds up a portrait of Grace Mugabe during a gathering of President's supporters at his party headquarters to show support to Grace Mugabe becoming the party's next Vice President after the dismissal of Emerson Mnangagwa. JEKESAI NJIKIZANA, AFP/Getty Images

President Robert Mugabe kissies his wife and first lady Grace Mugabe during during the country's 37th Independence Day celebrations at the National Sports Stadium in Harare. They are now under house arrest in Zimbabwe's Presidential palace. JEKESAI NJIKIZANA, AFP/Getty Images

epa06218458 President of Zimbabwe Robert Gabriel Mugabe speaks during the General Debate of the 72nd United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York, New York, USA, 21 September 2017. The annual gathering of world leaders formally opened on 19 September 2017, with the theme, 'Focusing on People: Striving for Peace and a Decent Life for All on a Sustainable Planet.' EPA-EFE/JASON SZENES ORG XMIT: JSX24 JASON SZENES, EPA-EFE

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 21: Zimbabwe's President Robert Gabriel Mugabe was unsteady on his feet after addressing the U.N. General Assembly at the United Nations on September 21, 2017 in New York, New York. (Photo by Kevin Hagen/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775046318 ORIG FILE ID: 851064952 Kevin Hagen, Getty Images

epa06317212 Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe (L) and his wife First Lady Grace (R) depart after an Zimbabwe African National Union (Zanu PF) supporters solidarity rally held at the party's headquarters in Harare, Zimbabwe, 08 November 2017 (issued 09 November 2017). The solidarity rally was held to show support of Mugabe and also throw weight behind First Lady Grace Mugabe for the post of vice president following the sacking of former vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa from the post on 06 November 2017. EPA-EFE/AARON UFUMELI ORG XMIT: XAU3
AARON UFUMELI, EPA-EFE

A supporter of Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU PF party stands next to a fallen statue of President Robert Mugabe on Aug. 30, 2017 in Harare, in a show of support for first lady Grace Mugabe who evaded assault allegations in South Africa by claiming diplomatic immunity. JEKESAI NJIKIZANA, AFP/Getty Images

President Robert Mugabe of the Republic of Zimbabwe, age 93, rests at the Opening Session of the 37th Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit of Heads of State and Government at the OR Tambo Building in Pretoria on Aug. 20, 2017.
The theme of the two-day Summit attended by heads of state from the 15 member nations is: partnering with the private sector in developing industry and regional value chains. GULSHAN KHAN, AFP/Getty Images

A supporter holds up a picture of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe as he joins with thousands of church members who attended an interface rally at Rufaro Stadium in Harare, Zimbabwe, on Nov. 5, 2017. The rally which was which was conducted by First Lady Grace Mugabe was aimed to preach peace and unity to ensure the country holds peaceful elections in 2018. However, Grace Mugabe also took the platform to attack vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa for attempting to topple President Robert Mugabe. AARON UFUMELI, EPA-EFE

Opposition Movement For Democtratic Change (MDC) spokesperson Dougals Mwonzora talks to the media at the Constitutional Court in Harare, on Aug.19, 2013. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai who lost to President elect, Robert Mugabe in recent elections has withdrawn his legal challenge to the July 31 vote, but Zimbabweís Constitutional Court on Monday heard demands by Mugabe's attorneys for a hearing to go ahead anyway, apparently reflecting the president's confidence. TSVANGIRAYI MUKWAZHI, AP

Many Zimbabweans reacted with a mixture of despair and resignation to the news that opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew a court appeal to re-examine the electoral results that gave President Robert Mugabe a landslide victory in 2013. Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi, AP

Mugabe arrives for the presentation of the national budget at Parliament in Harare, on, Nov. 24, 2011. Zimbabwe's Finance Minster Tendai Biti says he will plow $600 million in new revenue from diamonds into the nation's ailing health, water and power services. A highly educated man, one of Mugabe's seven earned degrees is a bachelors in economics. TSVANGIRAYI MUKWAZHI, AP

A child stands outside his home in a Harare suburb on June 8, 2008. The government ordered all independent aid groups to suspend field work indefinitely, a move the U.N. says puts at least 2 million people at greater risk of starvation, homelessness and disease in a country in economic collapse, making them dependent on the government and Mugabe's party. AP

Supporters of President Robert Mugabe, attend an election rally for the ruling ZANU PF party's youth in Harare, on June 13, 2008. Zimbabwe's welfare minister ordered independent aid groups to stop field work last week, prompting charges that Mugabe was using food as a political weapon before a June 27 presidential runoff. AP

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, right, is seen, at his inauguration ceremony at State house in Harare, June, 29, 2008. Mugabe was sworn in following a run off election in which he was the sole candidate following the withdrawal of Morgan Tsvangirai, the main opposition leader in Zimbabwe. TSVANGIRAYI MUKWAZHI, AP

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe pays his respects to former resistance leader and South African President Nelson Mandela during the lying in state in Pretoria, South Africa, Dec. 11, 2013. Elmond Jiyane, AP

Former South African president Nelson Mandela, right, with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe in Harare. Mandela, now in a hospital, quit after a single term as South African president. Robert Mugabe, Africa's oldest head of state remained in charge until Nov. 15, 2017. These two larger-than-life figures, who chose different paths once in power, represent a rivalry over style and ideas that resonates beyond southern Africa. Rob Cooper, AP

James Morris, left, head of the World Food Program (WFP) and peronal envoy of UN secretary general Kofi Anan, meets with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, right, on June 1 2005. Morris met with Mugabe for talks on the country's growing humanitarian crisis. A shortage of food left up to 4 million Zimbabweans at risk, but Mugabe insisted that Zimbabwe would only accept international food aid if there are no political conditions. AP

President Mugabe is seen at the launch of his ruling party's ZANU PF ( Zambabwe African National Union Pariotic Front) election campaign in Bindura, north of Harare, in this April 7, 2000 file photo. Twenty years after Mugabe lead his country to independence he is being branded a despot for ignoring court rulings to evict violent squatters who have occupied more than 900 white-owned farms. ROB COOPER, Associated Press

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, right, and his wife Grace, center, arrive in a Rolls Royce for the opening of parliament in Harare, July 22, 2003. Opposition lawmakers decided not to walk out of the ceremony breaking their boycott of official events addressed by Mugabe. The couple was married in 1996. She was his former secretary. AP

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, left, addresses black villagers at the handover of a white-owned commercial farm for resettlement in 1998. At the beginning of 1999, the 74-year-old Mugabe faced seething discontent over worsening economic hardships, a costly war in distant Congo and unchecked government corruption. ROB COOPER, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Prime Minister Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe waits for guests with his wife Sally at the National Sports Centre in Harare, Zimbabwe to celebrate the 10th anniversary of independence from Britain, April 18, 1990. AP

Elected deputy President of the African National Congress Nelson Mandela, left, and President Robert Mugabe greet people at the airport where Mandela arrived from Lusaka, March 4, 1990, Harare, Zimbabwe. Mandela was on a world tour. John Parkin, AP

Smiling happily, Robert Mugabe, Rhodesian President Designate and his Ghanaian wife, Sally, hold hands in the rose garden of their Salisbury bungalow, Zimbabwe, on March 6, 1980, as Mugabe worked at forming a Government following his party's landslide electoral victory. Sally Mugabe died in 1992. In 1978 she was elected ZANU-PF Deputy Secretary for the Women's League. In 1980 she assumed national role of the wife of Zimbabwe's first black Prime Minister. She became the First Lady of Zimbabwe in 1987 when her husband became the second President of Zimbabwe. Louise Gubb, AP

Black Rhodesian guerrilla leader Robert Mugabe addresses a news conference in Rome in Feb. 1978. Mugabe said his Patriotic Front is not willing to settle at the negotiating table for less than it could win on the battlefield. Bettmann, Bettmann Archive

“Although the democratization push seems to be paying dividends in some quarters, we are seeing reversals in several African countries,” said Peter Wafula Wekesa, a political scientist at Kenyatta University in Nairobi, Kenya.

Many Africa leaders resist stepping down because they fear prosecution for their crimes in office, added Wekesa. That’s why many go into exile after they reluctantly quit.

Former Gambian president Jammeh went into exile in Equatorial Guinea after he lost re-election. Joyce Banda of Malawi has been in a self-imposed exile in South Africa since losing the presidential election to Peter Mutharika in 2014. Amadou Toumani Touré of Mali also has been in Senegal since he left the presidency in 2012.

“First is the fear of losing economic and political privileges associated with the presidency,” said Wekesa. “Secondly is the fear, real or imagined, of retribution from political opponents who they have mistreated when in power."

In Togo, President Gnassingbé is fighting back against his opponents, banning further protests across the country and shutting down the Internet at times to limit dissent.

Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets in the past month to demand that he re-impose presidential term limits and leave office when his term expires in 2020.

A 1992 law had limited the president’s term to two five-years terms, but Gnassingbe's father, the late President Gnassingbe Eyadema, who ruled for 38 years, scrapped the limitation in 2002.

The protests are the largest against Gnassingbe's rule since his ascension to power. At least four people have been killed and hundreds injured in the rallies.

“We are going to continue demonstrating until the president steps down,” said Alifoe. “We are not going to get tired. No one needs him. He must go!”